Rolen 4th, Bruce 5th

This will be the Reds first visit this weekend at Camden Yards, but it won’t be mine. I’ve been here a few times while covering the Twins. When the weather is pleasant, it’s rather nice city and ballpark to be in and walk around.

But I’ve also been here in August and I will go on record that I have never been so hot nor have sweated so much in my life than when I was here at that time of year. That was the only time I ever left the press box postgame and returned to the air conditioned hotel room to write my game stories. (I know, real problems, right?)

Baltimore is muggier than St. Louis or Cincinnati combined. If you want to see yourself sweat, visit here in the summer. (Good chamber of commerce message, isn’t it?)

*Jim Kelch can back me up on this since we discussed it at lunch today…but I was wondering if Dusty Baker would move Bruce out of the cleanup spot with the way he’s been slumping and the way Rolen has come on. Bruce is batting .235 since moving to the fourth spot. He’s a .317 hitter in the fifth spot.

*Meanwhile, Rolen has seven RBIs over his last nine games, seven extra base hits in his last 11 games and batting .355 (11-for-31) over his last eight games.

*After a three homer game on Wednesday night, was there any other place for Heisey to be than starting and leading off?

*Reds DHs are batting .083 (1-for-12) this season. Jonny Gomes accounts for 0-for-8 when he was in the depths of his slump in Cleveland last month. He’s been hitting a lot better lately, so having his bat and Heisey’s should be a boost. We’ll see.

*The Reds have listed Homer Bailey as their starter for Sunday. That was expected, but not formally mentioned until today.

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Heisey playing and at the top; Stubbs down to where he fits, either sixth or seventh; Rolen and Bruce flip-flopping and thereby creating a separation between your top two left bats! Looks like Dusty has decided to do the necessary and obvious tinkering, and to do it fairly quickly, without frustrating the heck out of everybody.

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